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Vintage, much like art, can mean different things to different people. However, for a piece to be considered "vintage," it must be at least 20 years old and representative of a specific time period. So that 1950s step stool from the consignment store is just as vintage as the art deco antique brooch that has been lovingly handed down in your family since the '20s. Even with such a comprehensive definition and long time frame, vintage decorating is attainable.

Getting Started

Vintage style develops over time because you're not simply buying a complete bedroom or living room set from a catalog or major retailer; instead, you're curating. You acquire new pieces slowly, either from a trip abroad or a trip to the local thrift store or flea market, and steadily build a decorating scheme for either one room or the entire abode. Vintage style is accessible, personal and, oftentimes, affordable. It's the bed you inherited from your grandma, the bureau you had since childhood and the old side table you purchased at a yard sale. While vintage style encourages an eclectic mix, a fine line exists between eclectic and disparate. While you may have purchased the pieces at different times and locations, they should have a unifying theme in at least one element -- material, manufacturer or color.

Furnishings

All the furnishings in your vintage-inspired room don't have to be vintage, but they should work in unison, with a complementary color palette and scale. When searching for pieces to add to your vintage home, bring a tape measure plus the measurements of your existing pieces. A new couch straight from the factory will work with a mid-century coffee table if both have one unifying feature such as birch woodwork. A piece of vintage furniture can also form the room's focal point. A rustic jelly cabinet with its original paint adds color, history and useful storage to an otherwise staid dining or guest bedroom. Don't resist a bargain; if you find a reproduction piece that is more budget-friendly than the vintage original, go for the reproduction.

Walls and Floors

The correct paint color can make major impact in a vintage room. For vintage rooms inspired by the 1950s and the 1960s, paint the walls in shades of light gray and soft pink. For additional visual impact, paint the trim in complementary shades of dusty yellow or bright chartreuse. Or, use wood paneling with or instead of paint. Add a touch of wood with beaded-board wainscoting or cover a room with wood plank for instant warmth and a vintage look that blends with American or French country design. Although it was made in the 1950s, linoleum flooring represents almost any decade. Choose the classic combination of black-and-white vinyl squares, which closely resemble linoleum, for a vintage kitchen. Wood floors offer timeless, vintage appeal and can complete the look in decorating schemes with rustic and industrial influences. A wood floor works just as easily in a den with a vintage log cabin theme or in a bedroom with a vintage French country theme.

Accessories

Curating your collection of vintage accessories can be a long, but interesting process. Look for items within a theme, such as old postcards of your hometown or national parks that you can display framed in your foyer. Or, seek original pieces of jadeite glassware or other pieces of Depression-era kitchenware. You have more leeway with accessories, so if that vintage vase looks odd in the kitchen, relocate it. Scale is also important with accessories. A large vintage sign from a local farm will add impact to an otherwise plain wall, but a small vintage tin may look lost on a kitchen shelf. For visual impact, display a series of tins on a well-lit shelf.

About the Author

Lowell, Massachusetts-based writer Kris Gleba has been writing home decor articles since 2008. She enjoys all aspects of small home living, from complete gut remodels to ingenius home decorating that incorporates style and function. She has previously written for the “Athol Daily News.” She holds a degree in professional writing from Fitchburg State University.